Researching and Booking Accommodations: Carol’s Method

This is how I usually go about finding the right accommodations. For any properties recommended in Lipstick Getaways, I have done steps # 1 – 3 for you.

1. Zero in on one or two locations/neighborhoods.

• Use Fodor’s, Frommer’s, Expedia, or any number of guidebooks and websites (starting with Lipstick Getaways!) to get a sense of which neighborhoods are best for visitors. Where are the sights, shopping areas, museums, theaters, restaurant and nightlife scenes, etc?

• Cool trick: Here’s how I get a brief “snapshot” of neighborhoods using Expedia. In the “Plan your Trip” corner of the home page, select “Hotel,” type in your destination city, and click “Search for hotel” (you don’t have to fill in dates of travel at this point). That takes you to a Expedia’s list of hotels. Click on the “Area Map View” tab; that takes you to a map. Then click on each outlined neighborhood to read a brief description.

2. Now look for several possible hotels in your price range, in the desired area(s). How?

• Look in Lipstick Getaways, Frommers, Fodor’s, Expedia, Orbitz, etc. You can also look for listings on city websites (Convention and Visitor’s Bureaus, Chamber of Commerce, etc.) In most travel booking sites, you can narrow your search by neighborhood, star rating, price range, and more.

• Go to www.tripadvisor.com for unbiased travelers’ reviews of hotels. I think Tripadvisor is one of the Web’s greatest travel resources! See which hotels have mostly positive reviews (but keep in mind — even good hotels usually get at least one cranky review). There are many other useful features on this site; check it out.

3. Optional but recommended: visit the hotels’ own websites.

You’ll see what types of rooms they have (“deluxe,” “executive,” “junior suite” etc.), sometimes room size and floor plans, amenities, any special offers, maps, directions, and helpful visitor information and links.

4. Compare prices among the various online booking sites, the hotel’s own website, and by calling the hotel directly.

To get the very cheapest rates on the wholesale booking sites (like www.expedia.com, www.orbitz.com, www.hotels.com) you often need to pay in advance — and there is usually a penalty if you need to cancel or change your reservation.

Also, keep in mind that the wholesale sites have a limited number of rooms for sale, so if you see “No Rooms Available on Selected Dates,” don’t assume the hotel is sold out. Try another booking site or the hotel’s own site.

I usually get my best results via the hotel’s own website, or with an old-fashioned phone call. I find I get the same — or even better — rates, with no need to pay in advance and no penalty for cancellation. Sometimes they cannot match the internet rate, but don’t be afraid to ask nicely. Also don’t forget to look for special rates like AAA, corporate rates, and weekend or seasonal promotions.

5. Be sure to specify the type of room or suite and number of beds.

You may or may not be able to do this on the wholesale sites. Sometimes I’ve found it especially difficult to specify a room with two double beds unless I call the hotel directly.

6. Make your reservation via whoever gave you the best rate.

Be sure to get a confirmation number and print out any confirmation emails. If you’ve used one of the wholesale booking sites, I strongly recommend that you follow up with a phone call to the hotel. You want to be sure they have your reservation and any preferences noted.

6. What about Hotwire and Priceline?

If you’re willing to pay upfront and take a gamble, you can sometimes score huge savings using a site like Hotwire.com or Priceline.com.

The gamble is this: you don’t know which hotel you’ll be staying at until after you make your nonrefundable purchase. You tell them your dates, select the neighborhood and star rating, and see a generic description (but not the names) of several available properties; after you make your selection and pay, they email you a confirmation with the name of the hotel.

So if you are feeling lucky — or you are not that picky about your accommodations — go ahead and try one of theses sites. I’ve used Hotwire a couple times. I wasn’t crazy about the hotel I got, but it was ok, and I did save a bundle. Generally, however, I prefer to choose the hotel.

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